A former Hutchinson Correctional Facility inmate on trial this week admitted Wednesday he spit and hit correctional officers both at the prison and the Reno County jail.

Wednesday

Oct 21, 2009 at 12:01 AMOct 21, 2009 at 6:00 PM

Darcy Gray - The Hutchinson News - dgray@hutchnews.com

But 31-year-old Andrew Housworth also testified all the incidents charged against him occurred while he was taking the prescribed drug Prozac, and he believes the drug influenced his behavior and made him "erratic" and "impulsive."

Housworth, whose trial began Tuesday before District Judge Tim Chambers, is charged with multiple counts of battery of a correctional officer and an inmate, including two counts of aggravated battery.

Housworth acknowledged Wednesday his criminal history includes obstruction, attempted battery of a law enforcement officer and criminal threat as a juvenile, along with attempted robbery and aggravated assault as an adult.

But Housworth said there was a 10-year period while he was incarcerated that he received only "minor write-ups" in prison. Under questioning from his attorney, Alice Osburn, Housworth indicated he never had trouble with prison guards until he began taking Prozac, given to him at first in 40-milligram dosages, then up to 90-milligram dosages.

He admitted spitting on prison guards in June and August of 2007. Although accused of choking a guard in September 2007 with his belly chain, or restraint, Housworth testified he was first "clotheslined" and pepper-sprayed by the guard before he fought back. He denied choking the guard with a chain.

After being paroled in November 2007, Housworth was taken to the Reno County jail on charges of battery of the guards.

At the jail, he spit at a deputy in December 2007, Housworth testified. Then in April 2008, he hit and bit another inmate, Christopher Mayberry, after a "heated argument," he said.

Stephen Maxwell, senior assistant district attorney, said the jail's surveillance video showed Housworth walking out of his cell and into Mayberry's cell, where he attacked Mayberrry, "who was sleeping."

"You made the decision to walk into Mayberry's cell and attack him," Maxwell told Housworth. "You didn't have to leave your cell."

"I felt compelled to at the time," Housworth said.

"You're saying Prozac made you do it?" Maxwell asked.

"I think it influenced me, yes," Housworth said.

Housworth also admitted he punched Reno County Jail Capt. Scott Powell on Sept. 24, 2008, although he has not been charged in the incident. He claimed he was beaten by jail officers after punching Powell, then was transported to the Lyons County jail to be held.

It was in Lyons County where officers finally listened to his concerns about Prozac, and he got off the medication in March - and he hasn't had a problem with officers since, Housworth testified.

He said he never stopped taking the drug because he was so close to parole, then signed a parole agreement specifying he would continue to take prescribed medications.

Dr. Mark Goodman, a Hutchinson clinical psychologist, testified for the defense that he evaluated Housworth and believed the high dosage of Prozac given to Housworth - coupled with Housworth's "anger history" and "bipolar features" - caused aggressive, impulsive reactions.

"It would be unwise to give (Prozac) to someone with bipolar disorder because it can cause mania and promote anxiety, if it's used without a mood stabilizer," Goodman said. "An incorrect dosage can increase aggressivity."cq

Goodman said the recommended Prozac dosage for an adult was between 20 and 80 milligrams. The high dosage given to Housworth rendered him unable to reason appropriately, he said.

"It should not have been given to him," Goodman said. "It added fuel to the fire and sent him over the edge."

Maxwell countered the doctor's determination Housworth was "unable to form criminal intent to commit" the battery of officers was not in the report on the evaluation. Maxwell noted the report stated it was "entirely possible" Prozac contributed to Housworth's actions.

Under questioning from Maxwell, Goodman acknowledged the defense had paid for the evaluation and the testimony.

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